Frustrated Fisher tells Gloucester to get real

Laurie Fisher says Gloucester have a long way to go before they can be considered a powerhouse of English rugby after revealing his deep disappointment at being unable to transform the under-achieving Kingsholm side into title contenders.
Fisher fell on his sword last month following Gloucester’s late capitulation against Harlequins – a match in which the Cherry & Whites blew a 27-15 lead to encapsulate the frustration felt by supporters after years of big tournament failure.
For all Gloucester’s claims to be a big club, Fisher believes their lack of representation at senior England level is telling, with only Jonny May currently in the Red Rose reckoning.
Fisher says Gloucester’s board, armed with prospective new investment from French billionaire Mohed Altrad, must decide quickly and decisively which direction they will now go in order to compete at the top end of European rugby.
Fisher told The Rugby Paper: “There’s always talk of Gloucester being a powerhouse but, realistically, they had a few good seasons in the early to mid-Noughties but they haven’t been a powerhouse either side of that.
“In fact, over the 20 years of professional rugby I believe the club only ranks six or seven in England in terms of winning matches.
“Gloucester’s a rugby hotbed, but they’ve not been a Leicester, Saracens or Wasps in terms of winning leagues and European Cups. It’s a great environment with a wonderful atmosphere at matches, but does it need top end investment?
“There’s a belief that the squad is very strong but if you look at the current internationals around other squads in the Premiership, Gloucester has good players but in terms of guys at the top end competing for England places, I don’t think we’re a match for other teams potential-wise. That’s something the board must address.”
Fisher added: “As much as people like to believe Gloucester should be in Europe and be a top four side, I’m not certain that’s realistic when you look at the personnel at teams like Saracens, Wasps, Leicester and Bath.
“Gloucester are building towards that, but can they do it week-in, week-out for 80 minutes? The current answer is no.
“You’re judged on your England output, but aside from Jonny May there’s no one else. That’s what differentiates good players and the very top end.
“Money isn’t the be all and end all, as Exeter have proved, but if Gloucester can get investment from Mohed Altrad that will be a boost, not just for the first team but the academy as well. It will enhance Gloucester’s ability to be competitive.”
Fisher, who joined Gloucester in 2014, will leave the West Country and head home to Australia next month with his eye on rejoining his former club, the Brumbies.
“I love it here,” he added. “The Premiership’s a great comp and my preference would have been to see out the season, but we weren’t getting over the line in enough games and that was a big thing in my decision to move on.
“The really hard thing was the games we threw away. We played a lot of good rugby but four or five wins went begging on the back of poor decision making and back end control, while we had six three-try games but failed to get the try-bonus.
“That’s 18-20 points, so that’s the frustration and you look for reasons.
“We had good structures and were developing as a football team, but fundamentally we haven’t been able to solve the problems. It was my and other people’s responsibility to build beyond that but we haven’t been able to and that’s deeply disappointing.
“Was it a rugby problem? Was it a leadership problem, a personnel one or coaching? It’s probably a combination of all those so that was the catalyst of me asking whether it was time for a new pair of eyes to build on the good things we’d done.”
NEALE HARVEY